Delegation Visit of the Danish National Research Foundation
A delegation of five from the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF visited the DFG Head Office in Bonn on 18 September 2024. The purpose of the visit was to discuss management of the Clusters of Excellence funding line as part of the federal and state governments' Excellence Strategy with the DFG, as well as to speak more generally about the promotion of excellence in research in Germany and the role of research in society.
Delegation Visit of the DNRF: Group photo
DFG Secretary General Dr. Heide Ahrens with DNRF Chairperson Professor Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen (4th from right.) and CEO Dr. Søren-Peter Olesen (6th from left) and the other members of the DNRF delegation, as well as representatives of the DFG Head Office.
© DFG
DFG Secretary General Dr. Heide Ahrens with DNRF Chairperson Professor Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen (4th from right.) and CEO Dr. Søren-Peter Olesen (6th from left) and the other members of the DNRF delegation, as well as representatives of the DFG Head Office.
© DFG
DFG Secretary General Dr. Heide Ahrens welcomed the guests from the Danish funding organisation to the DFG. In addition to the newly elected Chairperson of the DNRF, Professor Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, the visitors included the current CEO, Dr. Søren-Peter Olesen, and the CFO, Steen Marcus. Representatives of the Excellence Strategy and Research Impulses division, of the Scientific Affairs Departments and of the International Affairs division took part in the meeting on behalf of the DFG.
Since funding of so-called "Centers of Excellence" in Denmark is the central funding instrument of the DNRF, the exchange focussed on approaches and opportunities related to the promotion of excellence in research. Both organisations found the activities of the respective other party interesting and inspiring. The DFG and the DNRF agree that excellence always has an international component and can only benefit from international networking.
Planning provides for the fruitful exchange between the DFG and the DNRF concerning research-related measures to promote excellence to be continued in this regard, as well as in view of further international networking.
The DNRF is an independent foundation for national promotion of knowledge-driven research across all scientific disciplines that was originally founded by the Danish parliament. Besides the by now 40 "Centers of Excellence" across Denmark, the foundation also promotes recruitment of international researchers and advocates for Danish researchers to return to Danish research institutions.